The idea of realizing and harnessing coherent quantum bits in scalable solid-state environments has attracted widespread attention in the past decade. One of the milestones in the field has been the coherent manipulation of the single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect spin in diamond However, inherent difficulties in growing and controlling the lattice of C diamond pose severe limitations to the use of the NV center for scalable quantum technologies. In close collaboration with experiments, we are searching for analogs to this defect in carbide and nitride materials. We are also studying the fundamental properties of several other quantum materials within the quantum sciences research areas at the University of Chicago (http://quantum.uchicago.edu/). Part of our work is supported by the Chicago MRSEC (https://mrsec.uchicago.edu/).
Quantum coherence of defect spins in solids
Long coherence times are key to the performance of quantum bits (qubits). In quantum computing, long spin coherence times are necessary for executing quantum algorithms with many gates. Qubits with robust coherence are also ideal systems for developing applications such as collective quantum memories and ultra-sensitive quantum sensors. We theoretically and experimentally showed that the Hahn-echo coherence time (T2) of electron spins associated with divacancy defects in 4H-SiC reaches 1.3 ms, one of the longest T2 times of an electron spin in a naturally isotopic crystal. Using a first-principles microscopic quantum-bath model, we identified key factors determining the unusually robust coherence. Our results point to polyatomic crystals as promising hosts for coherent qubits in the solid state.
"Quantum decoherence dynamics of divacancy spins in silicon carbide",
Hosung Seo, Abram L. Falk, Paul V. Klimov, Kevin C. Miao, Giulia Galli, and David D. Awschalom,
Nature Communication, accepted (2016).
Defect spins in functional ionic crystals
To date, defect qubits have only been realized in materials with strong covalent bonds. We recently introduce a strain-driven scheme to rationally design defect qubits in functional ionic crystals. Using a combination of state-of-the-art ab-initio calculations based on hybrid density functional and many-body perturbation theory, we predicted that the negatively charged nitrogen vacancy center in piezoelectric aluminum nitride exhibits spin-triplet ground states under realistic uni- and bi-axial strain conditions; such states may be harnessed for the realization of qubits.
"Strain-controlled design of defect spins in piezoelectric aluminum nitride for solid-state hybrid quantum technologies",
Hosung Seo, Marco Govoni, and Giulia Galli,
Sci. Rep.6, 20803 (2016).
"Designing defect spins for wafer-scale quantum technologies",
William F. Koehl, Hosung Seo, Giulia Galli, and David D. Awschalom,
MRS Bulletin40, 1146 (2015).
Boron: a frustrated element
All elements, except for helium, appear to solidify into crystalline forms
at zero temperature, and it is generally assumed that the introduction
of lattice defects results in an increase in internal energy. By using
lattice Monte Carlo techniques combined with ab initio calculations,
we find that β-Boron is stabilized by a macroscopic amount of intrinsic
defects that are responsible not only for entropic effects but also for
a reduction in internal energy. These defects enable the conversion of
two-center to three-center bonds and are accompanied by the presence
of localized, nonconductive electronic states in the optical gap. The
ab initio Ising model describing the partial occupancy of β-boron has
macroscopic residual entropy, suggesting that boron is a frustrated
system analogous to ice and spin ice.
"β-Rhombohedral Boron: At the Crossroads of the Chemistry of Boron and the Physics of Frustration",
Tadashi Ogitsu, Eric Schwegler and Giulia Galli,
Chem. Rev.113, 3425 (2013)
"Geometrical frustration in an elemental solid: An Ising model to explain the defect structure of rhombohedral β-boron",
T. Ogitsu, F. Gygi, J. Reed, M. Udagawa, Y. Motome, E. Schwegler and G. Galli,
Phys. Rev. B81, 020102(R) (2010)
"Imperfect crystal and unusual semi-conductor: Boron,a frustrated element",
T. Ogitsu, F. Gygi, J. Reed,Y. Motome, E. Schwegler and G. Galli,
J. Amer. Chem. Soc.131, 1903 (2009)
BaHfN2: a superconductor?
We have examined the electronic and vibrational structure
of the ternary nitride BaHfN2 within density-functional
theory. We find that BaHfN2 has chemical and electronic
similarities with high Tc metallochloronitrides MNCl’s
M=Ti,Hf,Zr, so its candidacy as another high Tc
superconducting nitride is plausible. The basic electronic
and vibrational properties of the undoped insulating phase
provide a basis for an understanding of the behavior of
BaHfN2 upon doping.
"First-principles study of electronic and vibrational properties of BaHfN2",
A. Kaur, E. R. Yivisaker, Y. Li, G. Galli and W. Pickett,
Phys. Rev. B., 85 155125 (2010)
Long coherence times are key to the performance of quantum bits (qubits). In quantum computing, long spin coherence times are necessary for executing quantum algorithms with many gates. Qubits with robust coherence are also ideal systems for developing applications such as collective quantum memories and ultra-sensitive quantum sensors. We theoretically and experimentally showed that the Hahn-echo coherence time (T2) of electron spins associated with divacancy defects in 4H-SiC reaches 1.3 ms, one of the longest T2 times of an electron spin in a naturally isotopic crystal. Using a first-principles microscopic quantum-bath model, we identified key factors determining the unusually robust coherence. Our results point to polyatomic crystals as promising hosts for coherent qubits in the solid state.
To date, defect qubits have only been realized in materials with strong covalent bonds. We recently introduce a strain-driven scheme to rationally design defect qubits in functional ionic crystals. Using a combination of state-of-the-art ab-initio calculations based on hybrid density functional and many-body perturbation theory, we predicted that the negatively charged nitrogen vacancy center in piezoelectric aluminum nitride exhibits spin-triplet ground states under realistic uni- and bi-axial strain conditions; such states may be harnessed for the realization of qubits.
All elements, except for helium, appear to solidify into crystalline forms
at zero temperature, and it is generally assumed that the introduction
of lattice defects results in an increase in internal energy. By using
lattice Monte Carlo techniques combined with ab initio calculations,
we find that β-Boron is stabilized by a macroscopic amount of intrinsic
defects that are responsible not only for entropic effects but also for
a reduction in internal energy. These defects enable the conversion of
two-center to three-center bonds and are accompanied by the presence
of localized, nonconductive electronic states in the optical gap. The
ab initio Ising model describing the partial occupancy of β-boron has
macroscopic residual entropy, suggesting that boron is a frustrated
system analogous to ice and spin ice.
We have examined the electronic and vibrational structure
of the ternary nitride BaHfN2 within density-functional
theory. We find that BaHfN2 has chemical and electronic
similarities with high Tc metallochloronitrides MNCl’s
M=Ti,Hf,Zr, so its candidacy as another high Tc
superconducting nitride is plausible. The basic electronic
and vibrational properties of the undoped insulating phase
provide a basis for an understanding of the behavior of
BaHfN2 upon doping.